It’s an Ashland status thing to say you live “above the boulevard.” Not unlike Boise’s North End, living above the boulevard is a thing one might say at a party. I kind of like “above the boulevard” better since it also suggests a dwelling above the flood plain of creek held back by the Hosler dam. The North End is just a region on a city plat map whereas “above the boulevard” suggests superior topographic advantage. I plan to trot out my living arrangements at all manner of occasions once i’m moved in.

Hah! Had you going there for a moment, didn’t I?

Anyway, house is rented, i should acquire keys on or about the 30th which is this coming weekend. The initial move-in will be a tad anti-climactic since i’ll have virtually nothing to move in. But it will be nice to have a full-function toilet at my disposal, a water heater larger than six gallons, a real wood-burning fireplace, and a place i can sleep that’s walking distance to my office. Oh yeah, a washing machine and dryer that i don’t need to feed quarters, too. Livin’ large.

Next comes flying back to Boise, acquiring a rental truck, loading said truck, driving back to Ashland, unloading aforementioned truck, then living out of boxes for the better part of the coming year.

I keep thinking of Maxine Hong Kinston’s book “Tripmaster Monkey” where one of the characters was heard repeating “when in doubt, do the more difficult thing.” There is no doubt that picking up and moving is a very difficult thing. But staying put is difficult, too. Which is more difficult? I think that question is going to be simmering on a back burner for quite some time.